Book cabinet



Aug. 22, 1933. c D KEELY r AL 1,923,096

BOOK CABINET A TI'ORNEY Aug. 22, 1933. D, LY Er AL 1,923,096

BOOK CABINET Filed May 16, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY mm A TTORNE Patented Aug. 22, 1933 cum-1m n.

Keely,"l 3loomfield, N. 1., and HaroldT Pcirson, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 16,1930. Serial No. 452,837

18 Claims.

Our present invention relates to-improvements in cabinets or racks for holding books of the reference type, as for example telephone directories. In the case of books of this type it is a matter of importance that they be contained when not in use in a cabinet affording a substantial measure of protection thereto. It-is also important that such a cabinet-be economical of space while means he had permitting the ready removal of the book from the cabinet and its easy consulting. Particularly, in the case of telephone directories in which several must be kept on hand at the same telephone installation, is it important that each book be returned to its proper place after others. Frequently thebooks are allowed to remain open or are piled on top of one another or both. As a result of the careless handling permitted, the directories in many cases must be renewed beforethey are superseded by the next issue.

It is accordingly a principal object of the 'invention to provide a cabinet- ,or rack for individually containing the books to which they will re-- main attached during use, such improved device allowing the body of the book to be removed therefrom and remain open thereupon and consulted and then when the user is finishedtherehaving a plurality of stalls for accommodating a plurality of books; to provide an improved mounting for the partitions constituting the stalls of 1 ,ferent constructions for securing the book holdthe cabinet facilitating their adjustmcntfor different widths of book as well as permitting 13113 easy assembly of the cabinet; and to provide improved means for securing the books in the cabinet and to facilitate the changing of the books.

may be caused to fit snugly within its stall to.

better preserve the book, maintain its shape,

H slow-up descent, lessen shock, and improve appearance by preventing spreading of leaves. To accomplish this, we preferably extend the stall members a substantial distance above the top of the closed position of the book and taper this extended portion so as to provide a somewhat ing transversely thereof;

Figure 5 is a'detail in horizontal sectionshowe flared topopening for the stall. A further object is to so devise the book closing elements'as to enable the books to be contained in a vertical position which adds to the appearance of the cabinet, and makes for is greater compactness.

Further objects are to provide such a cabinet or rack which will be compact, of neat and at- Still further objects of the invention and advantages thereof will be apparent from a detailed description of a preferred embodiment and the novel features will be pointed out in the ap pended claims. In the dawings forming part of the specification,

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of an il- 7! lustrative embodiment, such section being taken along the line l 1 of Figure 2; 1

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the cabinet with a book shown in dot and dash lines in reading position. 1 Figure 3. is a view of one form of the stall member or partition;

Figure 4 is a view of a retaining member or bar disposed at the top of the partitions and extending the book held in position between the stall members; 1

Figure 6 is a detail taken along the line 6-6 of Figure '7;

, Figure '7 is a detail taken along the line 7- 7 of V Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view partly in vertical section showing one manner of retaining the partition in place; 7 "V Figure 9 is a detail showing the construction of a preferred form of a book securing means; Figures 10, 11 and 12 are details showing difing means to the cabinet; and 7' Figure ,13' is a View similarto Figure 1' of a modification.

Figure 14 is a-view of a data showing an ltel-native construction by means of which the partitions or stall members are secured to the trans-= 100 verse members. 4 V

In carrying out our invention 'we preferably provide a plurality of book stalls which are formed by the several partitions shown, such par- ;.titi'ons being preferably adjustable toward and 'away from one another to accommodate different thicknesses of books. As shown, the book is pivotally secured adjacent and preferably somewhat above its upper inner corner so that when grasped in the cut-out portion in the partitions it of which such frames are made is optional.

necting the frame members 10, 10 are transverse '20, 21,22, 23, 24, 25 and 26, respectively.

the hand, to carry the book down into the stall against the friction caused by such raised portionsof the partitions, this action causing such raised portions to close the book-because of the flexibility of the covers thereof. It Will also be noted that the supporting edges of the partitions have portions which are pitched forwardsomewhat to reduce to the desired degree the effective friction action of the raised portions of the par titions.

In other words, the pitch of the supporting edges of the partitions should be slightly beyond the angle of, repose oi the non-manually supported book, it being noted that the action .of the book as it revolves around its pivot is essentially to slide down from the inclined surfaces constituted by the raised supports.

. Referring to the drawings in detail for a fuller understanding of the invention, 10, 10 denote the vertical frame members of the device at either side thereof which, in the embodimentshown, are formed of Wood although the material out Conpartition receiving members, preferably three in number, and denoted 11, 13 and 15, respectively, said transverse members being joined to the frame members 10, 10 in any suitable way common to the cabinet-makers art. Other transverse mem-' bers 16, 1'7 and 18 are also provided by way of aifording additional strength tothe cabinet. Secured along the transverse members 11; 13 and 15 are a plurality of partitions of special construction and preferably an adjustable distance apart so as to accommodate books of different thicknesses. These partitions, which in the embodiment shown are of wood, are designated 19, In'the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the partitions are held to the transverse ,m'embe'rsby means of bolts 28 which may be secured within the partitions by engagement with suitable nuts disposed therein. To accommodate bolts 28, each transverse member is provided preferably-with a continuous slot 29, see Figure 4. Thus, by tight- "ening the three bolts 28, each partition may be held in any adjusted position along the transverse members.

For the purpose of holding the book in the stall formed by two of the partitions and the transverse members 11, 13 and 15, a securing device of suitable design is employed, preferably of the types shown in Figures 9 to 12, which consists of a supporting, member or spine 33' having a ledge 35 preferably of'U-shape, as

. shown, to receive a portion of the weight "of. thebook and also a bail or securing member 37 which may be integrally although flexibly attached at one end to the member 33 at 37 above the position of the book, having the other end fittingwlthinan aperture in the upper portion of the U-shaped end 35. This U-shape of the end of the member 33 provides a longer grip on the bail. and prevents it from protruding beneath the member 35. By' choosing bail member 37 of springy metal, it may be readily inserted or reing apart.

moved merely by pulling same in a transverse direction to bow it somewhat. Supporting member 33, as shown in Figure 9, terminates in a loop 36, secured by a set screw 36, through which passes a pivot rod 38 which also passes through and is held by partitions 19, 20, etc.

The partitions 19 to 26 are provided with either a slot 39 as in Figure 3. or a hole 39a as in Figure 8 to accommodate the pivot rod 38. Preferably, every other partition, excluding end ones, are made removable for which purpose slots 39 are provided, Whereas the other partitions are provided with holes 3912 for the rod 38. By the use of holes for certain of the partitions, the rod 38 is thus held against transverse movement. Said partitions are also provided with cut-out portions A by means of which the book may be grasped.

It will be noted that each partition instead of having a uniformly straight top surface or edge is sloped or curved upwardly from the outside vertical-edge along a portion C thereof to a preferably horizontal surface 13 preferably above the pivot rod 38 and extending for a portion only of the book in reading position, approximately horizontal.

The partitions or stall members in the preferred embodiment are not of uniform thickness throughout but, as will be seen from Figures 2 and 3, have a part denoted X forward and above the closed position of the book which is tapered upwardly so as to render the top opening of the stall flared in an upward direction. As will be pointed out with greater particularity below, this flared opening of the stall causes the book to close within a more close-fitting stall whereby the leaves of the book are prevented from stand- The book is thus held compactly, better preserving its shape. The close-fitting stall furthermore slows up the descent of the book and lessens the shock of its impact against the rear of the stall.

In operation, assuming the device to be assembled as shown and thebook to be in position as shown infull lines in Figure 1', the user secures the book denominated D by grasping same at the cut-out portion A and bringing the same upwardly and forwardly to a reading position which in the usual case will cause the lower portions of the book to extend slightly above the portions B-of the partitions, the user supporting the lower end ofthe' book by one hand as indicated. Because of the flexible nature of the 'covers, the latter will lie over the raised portions B and in general will assume the position shown in dot and dash lines, Figure 1. When the user has finished with the book, he merely withdraws his hand whereupon the weight of the book produces a sufficient turning movement about the pivot33'to cause'same'to descend, and due to'what may be termed the cam action of the'raised portions B and tapered sides, the simultaneous closing of the book will be accomplished. The following factors may be said to causethe closand return of the book:

1. The turning moment ofthe book about its pivot which by the arrangement shown is greater than the opposing moment exerted by the partitions 3 about the same pivot, it being noted of the book in open position well beyond the supporting surface B (as-well as the transverse 'member15) 2. The action of the inclined surface C over In order to absorb the shock of the momentum of the book we provide a suitable shock absorber which in the embodiment under description takes the form of sponge rubber bars 41, 42, bar 41 being held preferably within a metal angle 43 passing transversely of the cabinet. In the position shown, a maximum depth of rubber for book movement in the direction of the shock is provided. If desired, bar 42 may be omitted.

It is desirable that the leaves of the open book be prevented from hanging over the end partitions to an undue extent as in such case the weight of the book may not be sufficient to pull the depending leaves over the partitions. In the case of the middle partitions, for example, i.'e. members 20 to 25, no special means are required inasmuch as this function will be performed by the partitions on either side of those forming a particular stall. In the case of the outside partitions 19 and 26, such support as is necessary is afforded by portions E of the side frame members 10, 10 which are higher than. corresponding partition edges.

In order to remove the book entirely from the rack. it is merely necessary to pull the same out to an open position and release the bail or bails 37 or, if desired, both the supporting member and the book may be withdrawn altogether by removing screw 36 and slipping the loop off the rod 38.

Figure 3 shows an alternative construction for securing the partitions in their adjusted position along the transverse members 11, 13 and 15. In this construction partition 23, for example, is bored obliquely of its height so as to accommodate a long bolt 45 which will extend say from transverse member 15' to member 13'. In this case it is desirable to have the bearing surfaces of members 15 and 13 made normal to the axis of the bolt shown. In this form of construction it will be noted that the partition 23' is held in proper position by a single bolt (since it cannot rotate around same) whereby adjustof the partition is facilitated since only one bolt need be manipulated. Instead of one bolt 2. pair, one at each end, may be employed and substantially the same result had.

In either form of construction it is desirable, though not essential, that a top fastening bar or cap be provided to cover the heads of the bolts 28. This bar conveniently may be secured to the cabinet by means of a tongue 51 engaging within a groove 52 at one end of the cabinet and fastened to the other end by means of 2. depending tongue of metal 53 secured to the end of the bar by means of screws 54, 55 and having a portion extending through the slot 29 in the transverse member'15. Tongue 53 terminates in a hook 58 which may be engaged by a wedge 59 which thus secures the tongue 53 and hence the bar 50 securely in place. The surfaces of the transverse members 11,13 and 15 adjacent the slots 29 may conveniently be faced may be somewhat less, as shown.

gage the portion beyond the slot wher edge of the with metal strips 61, 62 against which the head of the bolts may be screwed home.

In Figures 10, 11 and 12, we have shown different forms of means attaching the spine 33 to the pivot bar 38. In Figure 10 this is a simple loop whereas in Figures 11 and 12 a securing member 65 is employed which is engaged by screws 66. In Figure 12 the bend is made in the spine i self whereas in Figure 11 the bond is in the retaining member 65. Where a book is thick, two supporting members 33 are preferably employed, seen in Figure 5.

As has been pointed out, the tapered portions X of the stall members by their gradual pressing together of the leaves of the book enablethe par titions to be spaced close against the books en-- closed by them; this action helps to maintain the new appearance of the books and preserves their life. The exact manner of effecting this taper is susceptible of considerable variation and,

if desired, the taper may be made so as to produce a flare of the stalls outwardly in a forward direction well as upwardly although this is not ordinarily necessary.

of the book although this is not preferred since it enables the top edges of the book to stand apart slightly. It will be noted that the stall members are disposed so as to hold the closed book in a vertical or upright position, i. e. with the back of the book in a vertical plane, such position being of advantage as regards appearance and economy of space, although bringing the book to this Furthermore, the taper 0 may be continued downwardly beyond the top position requires a greater operating force than when the books are held tilted forwardly as in Figure 13. By shaping the stall members as indicated and by disposing the pivot 38 sufficiently above the closed position of t -e book, a suflicient turning moment of the book is bad to return the book to the position shown, this action being aided by the flared stall openings to obtain a close-fitting stall.

In Figure 13 we show a further form of cabinet in which the taper is omitted. This form of cabiiet is satisfactory except that the partitions cannot be brought as closely together against the books as in the previous embodiment. In this form of the invention, the books are contained in stalls which are tilted forward slightly, the effect of this being to facilitate the seli-closing and return of the book. Because the closing is somewhat facilitated by the downward pitch of the stalls, the height of the stalls above the book In this embodiment, the closing of the book is initiated by the raised surface B and is completed by operation of the surface 0'. A stop 41 formed preferably of a length of rubber tube forms a cushion to absorb the momentum of the returned book.

Figure 14 shows an alternative construction for securing the partitions in their adjusted position along the transverse members ll, 13 and 15. this construction a partition has a slot 43 xtending from an outer edge thereof to the aperture accommodating the transverse member 11, for example. A wood screw 45' is then screwed into the partition so that the screw threads enby, when the screw is'tightened, the opposite of the slot will tend to be brougl'it together and thus bind the partition upon the transverse memlwr 11'. Gr, if desired, the slot 43 could be continued beyond the aperture and as far as the opposite partition, in which case the portion below such'slot would be separable and would,

for example, be held by a pair of screws, one on either side of the aperture. In the construction shown in Figure 14 it is merely necessary to loosen the screw whereupon the partition will be slidable with respect to the rod 11, assuming the partition to be freely slidable with respect to the rods 13 and 15. This construction may be empioyed to bind the partitions upon each one of the rods 11, 13 and l5 or upon one or two of said rods, as desired.

It will be understood that the invention is susceptible to various embodiments other than the ones specifically described and that the spe cific design of the cabinet will be influenced largely by the nature of the materials used in its construction and that parts thereof may be used without others. It will also be understood that by decreasing the pitch of the surfaces C a condition may be had such that while the book Will not return unaided, it will nevertheless do so upon a very slight pressure whether by spring action or otherwise in the downward direction, and that the device when so modified is to be con sidered as part of our invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

This application is a continuation in part of our application filed July 29, 1929, Serial No. 381,742, which was allowed by the office on September 26, 1931, and which became abandoned on September 26, 1932.

We claim:

1. In a book cabinet, members constituting a stall in which a closed book is adapted to be contained, means including a pivot for securing the book in said stall, the pivot being disposed ad' jacent the upper inner corner of the book and adjacent the upper inner corner of the stall, whereby said book may be brought into an open position by swinging it upwardly and outwardly, said stall members extending vertically above the closed position of the book, the upper edges of the stall members extending along the covers of the book in open position adjacent the back thereof for a portion only of the length of the book, the inner walls of the stall members being shaped so as to render the top opening of the stall flared in an upward direction above the normal height of the book in closed position whereby to facilitate the return of the book from open position when manually released and to enable the stall members to be spaced closely against the sides of the book.

2. In a book cabinet, members constituting a stall in which a closed book is adapted to be contained, means including a pivot for securing the bookin said stall permitting saidbook to be brought into an open position by swinging it upwardly and outwardly, said stall members, extending vertically above the closed position of the book, the upper edges of the stall members extending along the covers of the book adjacent the back thereof for a portion only of the length of the book in open position, the inner walls of the stall members being shaped so as to render the top opening of the stall flared in an upward direction above the normal height of the book in closed position, said flared portions beginning at the normal height of the book in closed position, said flared portions facilitating the return of the book when manually released and enabling the stall members to be brought closely against the sides of the book.

3. In a book cabinet, members constituting a stall in which a closed book is adapted to be contained, means including a pivot for securing the book in said stall, the pivot being disposed above the book in closed position and in an approximate line with the back of the book and adjacent the upper inner corner of the stall, whereby said book may be brought into an open position by swining it upwardly and outwardly, said stall members extending vertically above the closed position of the book, the upper edges of the stall members extending along the covers of the book inopen position adjacent the back thereof for a portion only of the length of the book, the inner walls of the stall members being shaped so as to render the top opening of the stall flared in an upward direction above the normal height of the book in closed position whereby to facilitate the return of the book from open position when manually released and to enable the stall members to be brought closely against the sides of the book.

4. In a book cabinet, members constituting a stall in which a closed book is adapted to be contained. in substantially vertical position, means including a pivot for securing the book in said stall permitting said book to be brought into an open position by swinging it upwardly and outwardly, said stall members extending vertically above the closed position of the book, the upper edges of the stall members constituting supports for the upper portion of the book in open position by extending along the covers of the book adjacent the back thereof for a portion only of the length of the book, after which the upper edges of said stall members extend downwardly andoutwardly to adjacent the front edges of the book in its returned position whereby when manually released, the book descends between said stall members andis closed by. the contact of the sides of the book therewith and is held therebetween in substantially vertical position.

5. In a book cabinet, a pair of side frames, transverse members connecting same, a pair of vertically disposed stall members and means for adjustably securing said stall members to said transverse members comprising a rod passing obliquely through the length of said stall members and engaging transverse members on either end of said stall member.

6. In a book cabinet, side frame members, one or more members extending transversely of said frame members and constituting the bottom of a book receiving space, an upper transverse member, said transverse members being provided with slots longitudinally thereof, members constituting stalls and means joining said stall members to said transverse members and passing through said slot along which said stall members may have adjusted movement, and a cover member extending upon said upper transverse member and over said securing means and means for removably attaching said cover member in place.

7. In a book cabinet, a pair of side frame members, transverse members connecting same, a plurality of vertically extending stall members secured to said transverse members, said stall members being adapted to include a book between them and to extend above the book so included, such part of said members extending above the books in closed position being of decreasing thickness so as to provide top openings which are substantially flared in an upward direction, means for pivotally holding a book so as to be swung upwardly and outwardly to a reading position such that the book extends beyond said stall members and the book when released is r so frame members and constituting the bottom of a book receiving space, an upper transverse member, a plurality of stall members, means for attaching said stall members at three separated points to said transverse members, said means permitting said stall members to be removed from the rack and to be'secured thereto in adjusted position along said transverse members to acoominodate books of different thicknesses.

9. In a book cabinet, membersconstituting a stall in which the closed book is adapted to be contained, means including a pivot o the book in said stall, the bei disposed adjacent the upper inner corner of the book and adjacent the upper inner corner of the stall whereby said book may be brought into an open position by swinging it upwardly and outwardly,

the upper edges of said members constituting supports for the book in opened position, said supporting portions being disposed so as to extend along the covers of the book adjacent the back thereof for a portion only of the length of the book while in said opened position, the arrangement of parts being such that when the book is manually released from its opened position, the same descends by gravity between said stall members and is closed in such descent by the contact of the sides of the book therewith.

10.-In a book cabinet, members constituting a stall in which the closed book is adapted to be contained, means including a pivot for securing the book in said stall permitting said book to be brought into an open position by swinging it upwardly and outwardly, the upper edges of said members constituting supports for the book in opened position, said supporting portions being disposed so as to extend along the covers of the book adjacent the back thereof for a portion only of the length of the book, such portions being measured from the upper inner corner thereof after which the upper edges of said stall members continue to extend downwardly and outwardly to adjacent the front edges of the book in its returned position, the arrangement of parts being such that when the book is man ually released from its opened position, the same descends by gravity between said stall members and is closed in such descent by the contact of a the sides of the book therewith.

11. In a book cabinet, members constituting a stall in which the closed book is adapted to be contained, means including a pivot for se curing the book in said stall, the pivot being disposed adjacent the upper inner corner of the book and adjacent the upper inner corner of the stall w .ereby said book may be brought into an open position by swinging it upwardly and cut wardly, the upper edges of said members constituting supports for the book in opened posi-' tion, said supporting portions being disposedso as to extend above the pivot and along the covers of the book adjacent the back thereof for a por ,tion only of the length of the book while in said securing curing the book in said stall pe :aid to be brought into an open position by swiit upwardly andoutwardly, the upper edges of said members constituting supports for, the book in opened position, said supporting portions being r a nor of the length of the book while in said opened position, thearrange: of parts being such that anually releas d from its .v e sa .e descends by gravity between said stall membe s and is closed in such descent by the contact of the sides of the book therewith, and means for partially supporting theopen leaves of the book to prevent substantial over-hanging thereof whereby the closing of the book will be facilitated. i

13. In a book cabinet, members constituting a stall in which the closed book is adapted to be contained, means including a pivot for securing the book in said stall permitting said book to be brought into an open position by swinging it upwardly and outwardly, the upper edges of said members constitutin supports for the book in opened position, said supporting portionsbeing disposed so as to extend along the covers of the book adjacent the back thereof for a portion only of the length of the book, the arrangement of parts being such that when the book is manually released from its opened position, the same descends by gravity between said stall members and is closed in such descent by the contact of thesides of the book therewith, and means for absorbing the shock of the descent of the book.

14. In a book cabinet, members constituting a stall in which the closed book is adapted to be contained, ineansincluding a pivot for securing the book in said stall permitting said book to be brought into an open position by swinging it upwardly and outwardly, the upper edges of said members constituting supports for the book in opened position, said supporting portions being disposed so as to extend above the pivot holding means andalong the covers of the book adjacent the back thereof for a portion only of the length of the book such that the downward turning moment thereof about its pivot is greater than that exerted in the opposite direction by said supports, the latter being pitched downwardly so as to exceed the angle of repose of the book resting thereon.

15. In a book cabinet, a pair of side frames, a'pair of horizontally extending transversemembers connecting said side frames, stall members joined to said transverse members and extending normally thereto, one of said transverse members being disposed forwardly and toward the bottom of said stall members and another of said transverse members disposed rearwardly and toward the top thereof, whereby said'stall members are secured against substantial turning movement horizontally with respect to said transverse members and means for securing said stall members in adjusted position along the length of said transverse members.

16. In a book cabinet, members constituting a stall in which a closed book is adapted to be'contained, means including a pivot for securing the book in said stall, the pivot being disposed above the book in closed position and in an approximate line with the back of the book and adjacent the upper inner corner of the stall, whereby said book may be brought into an open position by swinging it upwardly and outwardly, said stall members extending vertically above the closed position of-the book, the upper edges of the stall members extending along the covers of the book in open position adjacent the back thereof for a. portion only of the length of the book, whereby the book when manually released descends by gravity between said stall members and is closed in such descent by the contact of the: sides of the book therewith.

1'7. In a book cabinet, a pair, of side frames,

transverse members connecting the same, a plustall in which the closed book is adapted to be contained, means including a f xed pivot for securing the book in said stall, the pivot being disposed adjacent the upper inner corner of the book and adjacent the upper inner corner of the stall whereby said book may be brought into an open position by swinging it upwardly and outwardly, the upper edges of said members constituting supports for the book in opened position, said supporting portions'being disposed so as to extend above the pivot and along the covers of the book adjacent the back thereof for a portion only of the length of the book while in said opened position, after which the upper edges of said stall members continue to extend downwardly and forwardly to adjacent the front edges of the book in its returned position.

CLIFFORD D. KEELY.

HAROLD T. PEIRSON. 

